How To Choose a Baseball Bat (2024)

Length

Bat length is measured in inches from knob to end cap. A longer bat gives you greater reach, allowing you to hit balls on the outside part of the plate. However, longer bats also tend to have more mass towards the end of the bat that requires more power to swing them. We recommend swinging bats of different lengths to decide what option best suits your swing. The right combination of length and weight will help you reach your peak performance.

Baseball bats most commonly are found between 24-34 inches. Please check the size chart for examples of what length may be appropriate for you.

Weight Drop

BAT LENGTH (IN.) – BAT WEIGHT (OZ.) = WEIGHT DROP

Bat weight is measured in ounces (oz.). A bat’s weight is often tied to its “weight drop” -- its length in inches versus its weight in ounces. For instance, a 30-inch, 20-ounce bat would be referred to as a -10 bat. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the competition or league level (meaning, from youth league up to the pros) the lesser the weight drop. A lesser weight drop means the bat feels heavier. So a -5 bat will feel heavier than a -10 bat.

Selecting the right bat weight depends on three main factors: sport, league rules, and player preference. Be sure to check with your local league for guidance, and read onto the league information listed below for more information of the three major league categories: BBCOR, USSSA and USA Baseball

Most common weight drops in various baseball leagues are -12, -10, -9, -8, -5, and -3. As you progress toward high school baseball, the weight drop lowers (the bats become heavier). When moving to a heavier bat, you may then decide to drop an inch in length to more easily handle the additional weight. This is a matter of personal preference and comfort at the plate as you advance in age, league and skill level.

Swing Weight

A factor you may not see, but will definitely feel is the swing weight* of your bat. Bats are often segmented by their given length and weight. The Swing weight is a determination of how a bat’s particular weight is distributed along the bat’s length. For example, you can have two bats that are 30 ounces, but that have different swing weights because the 30 ounces are distributed differently in the bat. Bats can fall along the swing weight spectrum, from light to balanced to end-loaded.

End-loaded bats shift extra weight toward the end of the barrel, creating more whip-like action on a player’s swing and generating more power.

Balanced bats have a more even weight distribution, allowing for potentially greater swing speed for many hitters. This is preferred by contact hitters who want more control of their swing.

DeMarini bats use different names to identify end-load versus balance. End-loaded bats feature the word “Insane” in the bat name, while balanced bats feature the word “Zen".

*Note - there are a variety of swing weights offered to meet player needs.

Composite

Composite bats are made with a layered material (often carbon fiber) that is easy to distribute, giving us the ability to make bats with a variety of swing weights, from balanced to end-loaded.

Pros of Composite:

• Minimize the sting from a mis-hit ball by reducing vibration to the hands
• Often have a larger sweet spot than alloy bats

Alloy

Alloy is a mixture of two or more metals, and has been commonly used in baseball bats for years.

Pros of Alloy:

• Stiffer feel through the swing zone
• More durable material

Construction

DeMarini offers two types of Baseball bats – one-piece and two-piece. A one piece bat is at sounds – the handle and barrel consist of one-piece of material. DeMarini offers a number of One-Piece alloy bats such as the Voodoo One and The Goods One. One-piece bats swing stiffer and will be less-forgiving on mish*t balls.

Two-piece bats consist of separate Barrels and Handles that are connected through a transition piece in the taper area of the bat. This creates more of a flex in the bat as it swings, but is much more forgiving on contact. DeMarini offers two piece composite bats such as the Zoa and CF series (composite handle plus composite barrel) as well as Half + Half™ bats with a composite handle and alloy barrel such as The Goods and Voodoo series.

Barrel Diameter

The barrel is the thickest and widest part of the bat used to hit the ball. The barrel is where you want to hit the ball in order to achieve maximum performance.

Barrels come in different sizes, and are measured by diameter. Barrel diameter is measured in inches and, like weight drop, certain leagues limit the size of a bat’s barrel. Please refer to the Your League on what your league requires. Generally, these are the most common barrel diameters:

• 2 3⁄4 inches
• 2 5⁄8 inches
• 2 1⁄2 inches
• 2 1⁄4 inches

College and High School Baseball

-3 Drop Weight
Barrel Diameter 25⁄8” or less

Senior League Baseball

Wide Weight Drop Range
Wide Barrel Diameter Range

USABat Standard

No Weight Restriction
Maximum Barrel Diameter of 25⁄8”

BBCOR - COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

• Maximum drop weight of -3
• Maximum barrel diameter of 2 5⁄8”
• Most wood bats are allowed under BBCOR rules

There are multiple ways to recognize a BBCOR bat. The easiest way is to look for the BBCOR certification stamp where the handle meets the barrel. Another way to identify a BBCOR Louisville Slugger bat is the blue callou on the knob and the packaging sticker.

Wood bats are also legal for BBCOR play and do not need the BBCOR mark. Wood composite bats on the other hand do need the BBCOR mark to be legal for play.

Not all -3 BBCOR bats feel the same. Often, a line of BBCOR bats is made with varying swing weights, from light-swinging to balanced to end-loaded. The swing weight is influenced by how the bat’s weight is distributed. End-loaded bats have more weight toward the end cap, more and have a relatively higher swing weight for that reason. More balanced bats have their weight distributed more evenly and have a relatively lower swing weight for that reason. For more information on end-loaded and balanced bats, please see the Bat Tech section.

USSSA

USSSA (United States Sports Specialty Association) is one of the largest baseball associations in the United States. USSSA separates their regulations by age group, with a range of permitted weight drops and barrel diameters. In order to find the most accurate information about what can be used in your USSSA league, we recommend contacting your coach and/or league official, or checking the USSSA website.

Ways to recognize bats certified for USSSA play include the USSSA logo on the taper of the bat, and the red knob and packaging sticker.

Weight drops vary in Senior League baseball, but players 10 years old and under often use -10 weight drop bat. Players 12 years old and up are now required to swing (-8) or (-5). 13 year old players often use a -5 weight drop to help them prepare for BBCOR/High School play which requires (-3).

**These are recommendations. Check with your coach/league official to find out what your league rules allow.

USA

Effective January 1st, 2018, USA Baseball adopted a new bat standard for youth baseball bats. All players participating in leagues that have adopted the USA Baseball bat standard will be required to use a USA Baseball-certified bat (a “USABat(s)” Standard). On January 1, only bats that have the USA Baseball mark will be legal for play in these leagues.

The following national member organizations will be adopting the USA Baseball bat standard beginning January 1, 2018: Pony, Little League Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth League and All-American Baseball Center.